Kinsler delivers game-winning hit for Texas Rangers

Posted: July 9, 2012 - 12:52am

The Associated Press

ARLINGTON — Ian Kinsler provided an electrifying finish for the Texas Rangers in their last game before the All-Star break.Kinsler lined a game-winning single into the left-center gap with one out in the 13th inning and the AL West-leading Rangers won 4-3 over Minnesota on Sunday night after tying the game with three unearned runs in the ninth.“You know we didn’t swing the bats well all night, then that ninth inning, somehow we figured out how to get three runs on the board,” Kinsler said. “That last inning, bases loaded, we’ve got to get it done right there.”One of eight Texas players headed to the All-Star game, Kinsler ended the Rangers’ second consecutive extra-inning victory — after a season-worst five-game losing streak. His teammates stormed out of the dugout to celebrate as David Murphy scored the winning run and the ball bounced against the wall.“It was huge,” manager Ron Washington said. “We certainly needed to continue to move forward off of (Saturday). ... We just kept battling and in the ninth inning, I think we showed the character that we have in that clubhouse. We didn’t quit.”Along with extra innings, there was a 46-minute delay in the fourth inning that started with a lightning bolt and a loud clap of thunder.Michael Young, who tied the game with a two-run single with two outs in the ninth, led off the 13th against Alex Burnett (2-2) with a double into the right-field corner. He was forced out at home on Craig Gentry’s grounder to shortstop Brian Dozier, whose error in the ninth set up Texas for a tying rally.But the bases were still loaded for Kinsler.After Young’s double, Murphy had been intentionally walked before Mike Napoli reached on an infield single before Gentry’s grounder.“A lot of really good things happened there, unfortunately, we just couldn’t nail it down, we couldn’t finish it off,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “A disappointing loss for us, some big plays to save the game, but not enough.”The Rangers (52-34), who are tied with the New York Yankees for the most victories in the majors, have won seven consecutive series at home, and eight of nine overall. They have a four-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.After the bright flash and thunder when Rangers starter Roy Oswalt was preparing to throw a pitch in the fourth, catcher Napoli and Minnesota batter Ryan Doumit quickly scrambled to their respective dugouts. Baserunner Josh Willingham dropped to his knees near first base and the game was immediately stopped, about 10 minutes before the rain began.Rangers officials said the lightning struck north of stadium and didn’t hit the facility. There were no reports of damage or any injuries.“My heart stopped when I heard the thunder at the stadium. Glad no one heard me scream like a little girl too!! Lol,” Twins right fielder Ben Revere tweeted during the ensuing delay.“That was the loudest thing I ever heard in my life, I don’t even know how to describe it. It was crazy,” Young said. “Being on the field, it was nuts. ... It was interesting to see everyone’s reaction, that’s for sure. During the rain delay, we looked at the replay at least 40 times.”Young had his first four-hit game of the season, but missed a game-ending hit by only inches in the 11th when his liner down the right-field line was just foul before center fielder Denard Span made a running catch of his deep liner. The Rangers left the bases loaded that inning when Gentry hit a liner to first base.The Rangers also left two runners on in the 12th when Nelson Cruz, who had the game-ending hit Saturday night, had an inning-ending grounder.Scott Feldman (3-6), the eighth Rangers pitcher, worked the last two innings.Texas got its three runs in the ninth off Glen Perkins right after Minnesota had padded a 1-0 lead with two unearned runs in the top of the inning off All-Star closer Joe Nathan.Nathan’s throwing error against his former team led to a run before Span hit a sacrifice fly.Twins rookie Cole De Vries pitched seven scoreless innings. The right-hander struck out five while allowing three singles, two of them to Kinsler.The other All-Stars on the majors’ top-hitting team — Elvis Andrus, Josh Hamilton, Beltre and Napoli were a combined 0 for 9 with three strikeouts, a walk and a sacrifice bunt against De Vries.“De Vries was unbelievable,” Gardenhire said.Casey Fien threw a scoreless eighth in his first appearance for the Twins before Perkins’ third blown save in seven chances.Oswalt, who had given up 13 hits in each of his last two starts, allowed one run and five hits over 5.2 innings. He was gone after Justin Morneau’s RBI single for a 1-0 lead.Kinsler led off the ninth with a grounder to Dozier that turned into a two-base throwing error. After Perkins threw a wild pitch, Andrus had an RBI grounder.Hamilton popped out to third before Texas, with only four hits to that point, had four consecutive two-out hits. That included Young’s tying hit.